Basketball legend and poker fanatic Paul Pierce has lost his ESPN analyst role this week after sharing a video of himself smoking weed and entertaining twerking exotic dancers!
The former Boston Celtics and 10-time All-Star NBA player was seen on Instagram Live receiving a massage at the poker table from a scantily-clad female, while another twerked provocatively in the background.
That was followed by Pierce drinking, smoking what appears to be a joint, and clearly under the influence as he is joined by a procession of exotic dancers on camera.
For ESPN, a Disney-owned company, the video was more than enough reason to part ways with Pierce, who had been a basketball analyst with the network for 3 and a half years, following his retirement after 19 years in the NBA.
The 43-year old, known as “The Truth” during his playing career and up for a spot in the Hall of Fame this year, was a regular on the network’s “NBA Countdown” and “The Jump” shows.
Poker fans will perhaps remember his exit from the 2019 PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) after a fun run alongside Mustapha Kanit in the $25k buy-in event.
After his pocket jacks held up against the AQ of Pierce, Kanit joked with the sporting legend:
“Who’s the truth now? This is my game. Welcome to my court! Bam!”Pierce took his exit well, smiling and high-fiving the Italian poker star before telling reporters:
“I ain’t heartbroken. I had fun.”
Pierce has also played in the WSOP Main Event and appeared on Poker After Dark.
His ESPN ‘firing’ doesn’t seem to have phased him however, Pierce releasing a four-second clip on Twitter of…laughter!
…with the promise of “Big things coming soon.”
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